What If Starbucks Marketed Like A Church?

From Richard Reising: A few years ago, I was sitting in my local Starbucks and happened to overhear a group training session for new employees. And it was awesome! The employees were being trained on the atmosphere and experience that they were hired to create. The mission statement was given clearly through examples, so everyone could grasp it. The meeting was visionary. I was just about ready to fill out an employment application! The people holding the training had a picture of how the employees were to treat each other and the leadership, but the tone was not focused on what the workers wanted to get out of the job. Instead, the training was centered around the experience they were to provide for each other and in turn, the customers. They were taught to be relational with frequent guests and sensitive to those who might not even know what a latte is…

I hesitated posting this as I am not really sure what to think of all the parity, but it is making me think. My hope is you might have some comments on this too. Let me know your thoughts.

Live On Mission

Many people have a tendency to underestimate the power of their influence. Many Christians fail to think of the influence they have and how God can use that to draw people unto himself. In my time, I have learned that God places us in our jobs, not to draw a paycheck, but to draw people to Him through us. He places us in our community, to show the power of true community focused on serving others. He even puts us in our families to share Jesus to those in our family who do not know Him. Here is a graph that shows we should never underestimate our influence (courtesy of edstetzer.com).

11th Hour Salvation

Hughie Jones passed away March 22, 2009. He spent all but 9 days of his life refusing to talk about Jesus or hear what anyone had to say about Him. However, on March 13, 2009 all of that changed and he was washed clean by the blood of Jesus. Lying on what was to be his deathbed, after hearing the Gospel, Hughie talked to God and said, “Jesus Save Me.” Before he made that decision he listened about how Jesus loved him beyond measure and that there was nothing he could do to ever be too bad for God not to love him.

It is my opinion that he believed God loved him from the simple fact that his family loved him. Despite anything he had done, his daughter (Rachel, my mother-in-law) was constantly there for him. He knew his family loved him, which was proven by the visits made over the years, especially those made in his last days.

Another key component of Hughie being able to receive the free gift of God by calling upon the name of the Lord was his identifying with other who made decisions far worse than his. Hearing of Abraham, David, and Saul/Paul, he realized that salvation was open to all… a fact of Scripture that should bless our souls beyond belief.

In preparing for his funeral, God brought me to a portion of Scripture that demonstrates the matter of rewards is under the sovereign control of God. God is the One before whom all accounts will be settled, and he can distribute His grace whenever and to whomever he wants! Here is the passage, Matthew 20:1-16:

1"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. 2He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. 3"About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' 5So they went. "He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. 6About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?' 7" 'Because no one has hired us,' they answered. "He said to them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard.' 8"When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.' 9"The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. 10So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.' 13"But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? 14Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?' 16"So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

The New Urkel

Here is the new Steve Urkel (from the TV series Family Matters from 1989 to 1998):

Does it Pay to Haggle?

Today there was an article on USAToday.com that talked about haggling with retailers over prices. This is something that is common is other parts of the world, but I have never even thought about doing it in a department store here in the states (outside of a car dealership). In Greece, Africa, & Mexico it was pretty easy to get 40-50% off what the stores would ask for, but what about here? Has anyone tried this at Lowes, Home Depot, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, or Sam’s? Does this actually work? Please let me know what you have done or have heard of.

The Crash of 2009

Our government is NOT good with money.

Pathetic Presidential Decision

Today our president stated that he will accept an “imperfect” spending bill. How sorry is it that he will accept imperfection. Who in their right mind would accept an imperfect surgery, home, car, or loan? We wonder why we are in this economic mess, while the leader of our country sits by idly accepting an “imperfect” $410 billion spending bill filled with earmarks he swore he would fight during his campaign. You can call it what you want, but that is pathetic.

Here is an article on the story: USAToday Link

Embryonic Stem Cell Research Myths

Justin Taylor posted a this article, and I wanted to share it.

Yuval Levin--author most recently of Imagining the Future: Science and American Democracy--shows four basic myths that the public and the media believe about embryonic stem cell research and policy:

1. Obama has restored federal policy to what it was prior to Bush’s 2001 stem cell policy announcement.

2. The Bush policy was a ban on embryonic stem cell research.

3. There are no viable scientific alternatives to the destruction of human embryos.

4. The promise of pluripotent stem cells is quite certain.
Read the whole thing.

Another article on Stemm Cell Perspective

Daylight Savings Time = Worst Day of the Year

Don't forget to adjust your clocks before you go to bed tonight! We lose an hour of sleep, peace, and quiet tomorrow. Springing forward is never a good thing, but do not forget to do it...

In the US, 2009 Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 8 at 2 AM and ends on Sunday, November 1 at 2 AM as well. Time moves ahead one hour in March while it moves back one hour in November (hence the saying "Spring forward, Fall back").

US Daylight Saving Time begins on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November. In many western European countries Daylight Saving Time begins on the last Sunday of March and concludes in October on the last Sunday of that month.

Note that although commonly referred to as Daylight Savings Time, there is "officially" no "s."
From WikiAnswers

Soccer Worth Watching?!?

As crazy as it sounds, this kid makes soccer worth watching. His name is Madin Mohamed, a 6 Year Old New Zidane. From a person who cannot stand soccer, I would go watch this kid play.

25 Random Things About Me

1. I don't really sleep well (which is why I'm doing this now), especially when I'm not with Christy.

2. I am a violent sneezer! When I sneeze it's loud and out of control... It's the worst.

3. I remember exactly when I met Christy: July 28, 4:58 PM, 2002. She was in the passenger seat of Amy's Lexus wearing a yellow hat... I also knew we would get married after our second date, which freaked me and Fredo out… his response was shock when I walked in the door and told him after that date.

4. I am obsessive compulsive, about most everything from tidiness to working out, and wish/pray I'd be that way about my dissertation!

5. I cannot stand peanut butter or hot dogs. Peanuts give me headaches and make me nauseous, hot dogs are just disgusting. Ironically, I will eat corn dogs.

6. Chloe and Coleman make me smile even when I don't feel like it.

7. I'm more competitive than you.

8. I don't really know when to say when... so be careful when messing with me, you'll probably regret it!

9. I'm a Dallas Cowboy, OU Sooner, Dallas Maverick, Chicago Cub & Texas Ranger, and Dallas Stars fan in that order.

10. If someone offered me 1 million dollars or to pay off my mortgage, I'd accept with gratitude and without hesitation.

11. Mission work thrills me, but it's never been easy. On missions trips I've broken my hand, been poisoned (food and medicinally), had 2 horrible ankle sprains, almost got bitten by a "2 step killer" snake, got malaria, was arrested, and spat upon... and every time I tell the stories people sign-up to go too!

12. Being a parent is the hardest and most rewarding task I've ever done... that dissertation is the next hardest thing, but no reward yet.

13. Right now my soda of choice is Diet Pepsi... I like Dr. Pepper (with Strawberries) better, but am trying to be healthier... doubt it will last!

14. I overanalyze and read too much into most everything, at least I think I do...

15. I crack myself up, and others too... If they have a good sense of humor.

16. Ideas and execution I enjoy, details not so much.

17. To relax, sometimes I will simply put on a hat.

18. Although I want to be (and have improved a bit), I'm not much of a handy-man. With that being said I replaced part of my fence and window trim, so I must be getting better... Brent, could you come over and fix my window thing?

19. If I ever write a book, I will publish it under the name Cole Coleman... Thank you Zig.

20. I have 9 accountability partners and meet with them all at least once every two weeks.

21. I get migraines all the time. Probably 2 times a week, sometimes more, sometimes less. When diagnosed by my specialist he told me, "You have chronic migraines." I paid money for that bit of helpful insight!!!

22. Instead of bad words, I like to say Jiminy Cricket or John Brown when fired up.

23. I recently wore out the keyboard on my laptop and have to replace it. While it's obviously good I don't have to purchase a new computer, I'm not sure it's good I type that much.

24. "I would rather cut my leg off and beat myself to death with it," is my favorite thing to say when I don't want to do something. Compliments to Pendergrast for the saying.

25. When in public, I have a tendency to think I know people, I don’t really know. For instance, a few months ago while visiting my in-laws in Texas I went up to an old college friend and started a conversation… the problem is that she had no clue who I was.

Breaking News: Chrysler & GM Make the Worst Vehicles!

Today an article on usatoday.com reported, “'Consumer Reports' puts Chrysler, GM in bottom spots.” No wonder they are about to go belly up. For years Chrysler and GM have made unreliable and cheap products. Hollywood caught on to this fact and made a movie about how poor the American auto-industry was (Gung Ho). The fact is Chrysler and GM have no one to blame but themselves. The bailout was a waste of our tax dollars, and it is my hope we do not go down that road again.

Growing up, my family always had a GM vehicle. On family trips part of the fun was waiting to see when, not it, the car was going to breakdown. Over the years we broke down in the middle of the Ozarks, nowhere New Mexico, and on rare occasion’s metropolitan locations. Not only was this true of my parent’s vehicles, this was also true of everyone in our network who had an American made vehicle.

From the age that I was aware of different vehicles makes, I made a vow to never buy American because every American made vehicle we had was a pile of junk. Over my driving life, I have owned a Honda Civic, Acura Integra, Honda Accord and a Honda Pilot… all of which have been reliable and never stranded me in the middle of nowhere unlike every GM my parents owned. For me, it is not un-American to buy foreign, it pro-intelligence.

As a total side note, we should also beware of any product that sounds like a bad word when pronounced loud and quick. If you are unaware of what I am referring to, just say “Chrysler” loud or under your breath and see if people look at funny. And for the record: If an American car can surpass the quality of Honda or Toyota, I will gladly purchase one of those vehicles… but I won’t be holding my breath on that one.

Party's Over: Welcome Back Tiger!

Joe Biden = Most Ignorant Vice President Ever

Joe Biden must be the most ignorant Vice President ever. Today he asked an aide to tell him a Web site's "number," stirring questions online whether he knows how the Web works. Seriously! Dan Quayle made headlines for spelling potato incorrectly (he told a 12 year old boy to add an “e” to the end of it), something that happened in 1992, and we still remember because of how the media blasted it on the airwaves. However, Biden consistently makes a fool of himself and it seems like the media turns a blind eye to it. When Obama places him in charge of anything, is that not scary? Here are some videos of the dumbest VP our country has ever had… a safe estimation only 36 days into his first term:

Inspecting My New Year’s Resolutions

Each year I make New Year’s Resolutions and 2009 was no different. As most people have abandoned them by this point in the year, I wanted to inspect and report on mine. If you are unaware of my goals, simply click here to check them out. Here is my progress report:

• Educational: Finish my doctor of ministry degree

I failed to submit chapters 1-3 by February 13, but can still faicilitate my ministry project March 25-May 27. In mid-January I spent 4 days in KC working on it and meeting with my project chair which drastically changed my project, while also bringing clarity to what needs to be accomplished. Thankfully, I am still on track to turn in my final copy by August 10. Please pray for this work.

• Family: Be home at a scheduled time

This is still a struggle and improvement is needed. There are some nights where I do good, but for the most part this is a resolution where more resolve is needed.

• Marital: Monthly Date Night and a Getaway

We have had a monthly date night, but no getaway yet… maybe that will come soon after August 10!

• Physical: Run 3 miles a week

The real goal was to work out 3 times a week, and that has been surpassed consistently. Once the resolution was made, I think I have worked out 4-6 times each week. Not only am I working out, I am also making a conscious effort to eat better too.

• Spiritual: Be consistently studying the Bible

This has been going good. I restarted my systematic Bible study and have been deliberate not to preach or teach from the passages I am studying for my own personal growth. Good stuff.

They are going pretty good so far, but desperate and serious attention is to be given to my dissertation and scheduled time to arrive home.

Obama Agrees With Bush?!?

As unreal as the headline might sound, it is true. President Obama is on the same page with President Bush… at least on one policy… Here is an excerpt from the article:

Justice Department lawyers filed court papers agreeing that detainees at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan cannot use U.S. courts to challenge their detentions

Golf On TV Is About To Be Good Again

Breaking News: Golf is about to become watchable again. Although I consider myself a fan that will make a point to watch the major championships, as well as some other golfing events, I have found myself rather uninterested in televised golf since the US Open. Thankfully, Mr. Eldrick Woods (aka Tiger) will play golf for money next week, his first official appearance since winning the U.S. Open with two shattered knee caps and a broken three-wood eight months ago. So, for the first time in eight months, I will be making plans to watch golf again!

ESPN's Story
AP's Story

Care Enough to Share

This video has been floating around for a while, but I just saw it and wanted to share it. Penn (from Penn and Teller, eccentric magicians with a psychotic twist) is an atheist and is sharing his view of Christians. Here it is:



He made some great points and asks some great questions. How much do you have to hate someone to believe there is a heaven and not tell them about it? Be polite, honest, sane, and care enough to share Christ with them. Care enough to share!

A Man Playing Against Grade Schoolers

Blake Griffin might be more amazing than we think. The windmill is impressive, but splitting the defenders and throwing down like he did is unreal. He looks like a man playing against grade schoolers. Here are the highlights from today's game:

Redbox

Last week Christy was out of town for a few days, so I spent those nights home along watching movies. About a year ago I stumbled on a DVD rental machine called Redbox. They are setup in local grocery stores in Tulsa (Wal-Mart, Sam’s, & Food Pyramid) and charge $1 per night. Last week I rented 5 movies for a total of $1, because there is also a website (www.insideredbox.com) that allows you to obtain promotional codes where you can rent movies for free. With Blockbuster charging around $5 for a new release, this is definitely the way to go when renting movies.

The Office: A Dangerous Gift

The Office is my favorite show. If you have not viewed this webisode, you are welcome. Electrifying good stuff!